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The world needs a united Europe to avoid getting into the s*** hole

Yesterday, President Donald Trump referred to Haiti and African countries as ‘S***hole countries’ during a meeting with congressional leaders in the Oval Office, while praising Norway as an attractive country from where he would prefer receiving more immigrants. This is not an example of subtle but of outright racism. Trump is the leader of the most powerful country in the world and such a statement lacking empathy creates a whirlwind of discontent.

Europe, however, offers some tangible reasons for optimism these days. There is compelling evidence that Brexit is not the best political development for Britain or for the European Union, for that matter. Nigel Farage, one of the leading Brexiteers, has recently asked for a second referendum on such a major issue, which will define and decide Britain’s place in the world by its choice.

Tony Blair, who campaigned for Britain remaining in the EU, also wants a second referendum. The chances at this moment may not be optimal, but it is possible that the British Labour Party could change its stance, compelling the government to call for a second referendum. It’s not crystal clear, yet tendencies show that the younger generation in Great Britain, which is connected to the world through social media like Facebook, Instagram etc, is in favour of remaining in the EU. Several Brexiteers are very old, disconnected from the world, and their numbers are decreasing.

The young are open-minded, have friends from other European countries, have studied in schools with children from Asia and Africa, and primarily want the global challenges being addressed, not by isolating the country but by engaging the nation. It may not be an exaggeration to explain the generation gap, not just in Britain but in the whole of Europe, as those indulging in nostalgic nationalism standing in total contrast to those who are liberal cosmopolitans, who want global and international institutions to solve political issues.

This ideological, political, and generational divide needs a second chance in Britain as the choice will have a long-lasting effect, not just on Britain but on the rest of Europe and the world. It is possible that those young people, who refrained from voting last time a referendum was held, might turn out in large numbers to vote for remaining in the EU, now that they see the consequences like rising unemployment or the loss of attractive jobs as European institutions and headquarters are leaving London.

The divide is not just demographic, but also geographical. People in major big cities like London voted in favour of remaining in EU, whereas people primarily residing in the countryside voted to leave.

The European Union, in the meantime, should adjust to the needs of sovereign nations and let them have a little more autonomy, showing clear intentions of not meddling in every single issue of national significance. This would make invalid the argument that EU is out there for more power grab.

Since the Second World War, having seen some of the worst killings in the entire history of mankind, European cooperation and multilateralism were born to avoid future genocide and wars resulting in millions of lives lost. Europe said enough is enough. International cooperation became the dominating theme within EU, and no wars have been fought since then within EU or among EU countries.

In a world where America is withdrawing from international treaties and obligations, where its president uses inappropriate language to describe people with darker skin, the world needs the European Union, which has evolved a system of fair and non-discriminatory legally binding charters of human rights. Nowhere in the world are human rights, given such a high priority.

On a day when the American President used foul language to describe African nations and showed his preference for immigration from Norway, a country of white people, one cannot be in doubt any longer that the time of European leadership on the global stage has arrived.

A Europe which respects the human rights of all people, and where everyone gets a fair chance, needs to take up the leadership. The world needs a United Europe, to counter the divisive political leadership emanating from the White House.

The European Union has devoted immense effort to fight racial bias. The European Convention of Human Rights bans discrimination of any kind. The British people need to vote again and give it a thought that their country’s participation in the European Union will strengthen the human rights regime that has made the world more peaceful, fairer and less racist.

DISCLAIMER : Views expressed above are the author's own.

Blog

Mind the gap will try to analyse events in India seen from a Scandinavian perspective. It will also do the exact opposite, in other words analyse events in Scandinavian countries, and Europe as seen with Indian eyes. It will also give a view of Indian diaspora comparing the most egalitarian and sparsely populated part of the world with the most unequal and densely populated part of the world - India.

Author

Mrutyuanjai Mishra is a commentator with Politiken, Denmark's largest newspaper. He also comments on Asia on Danish TV and radio channels. He has authored many analytical articles on Asia and India in several Danish newspapers. He has studied anthropology at Copenhagen University and has specialized in human rights and democratization. Mrutyuanjai Mishra has spent half of his life in India and the other half in the Scandinavian countries Denmark and Sweden.
Mrutyuanjai Mishra is also a consultant lecturer on issues related to India and Asia at institutions of higher education.
He is currently working on a book on India to be used for higher educational purposes in Scandinavian countries.

Mrutyuanjai Mishra is a commentator with Politiken, Denmark's largest newspaper. He also comments on Asia on Danish TV and radio channels. He has authored m. . .

Blog

Mind the gap will try to analyse events in India seen from a Scandinavian perspective. It will also do the exact opposite, in other words analyse events in Scandinavian countries, and Europe as seen with Indian eyes. It will also give a view of Indian diaspora comparing the most egalitarian and sparsely populated part of the world with the most unequal and densely populated part of the world - India.

Author

Mrutyuanjai Mishra is a commentator with Politiken, Denmark's largest newspaper. He also comments on Asia on Danish TV and radio channels. He has authored many analytical articles on Asia and India in several Danish newspapers. He has studied anthropology at Copenhagen University and has specialized in human rights and democratization. Mrutyuanjai Mishra has spent half of his life in India and the other half in the Scandinavian countries Denmark and Sweden.
Mrutyuanjai Mishra is also a consultant lecturer on issues related to India and Asia at institutions of higher education.
He is currently working on a book on India to be used for higher educational purposes in Scandinavian countries.

Mrutyuanjai Mishra is a commentator with Politiken, Denmark's largest newspaper. He also comments on Asia on Danish TV and radio channels. He has authored m. . .